If you have ever seen a workplace, school or footy club full of people in wildly clashing prints, there is a good chance it was Loud Shirt Day. It looks like a dress-up party, and it is one. Underneath the colour, though, it is a fundraiser with a clear purpose: supporting children who have hearing loss.
Here is what the day is about, who runs it, and what it can nudge us all to think about when it comes to the hearing of the children in our lives.
What is Loud Shirt Day?
Loud Shirt Day is celebrated right across Australia. According to the organiser's own website (Loud Shirt Day Australia and New Zealand), the aim is to "turn up the volume" for kids with hearing loss. People take part by wearing their brightest, loudest clothes and supporting a children's hearing organisation.
The day is held each year, and the organiser's website, loudshirtday.org, has the details of how it works.
Where does the money go?
People who take part choose a children's hearing organisation to support. The organiser's website lists these centres:
- The Shepherd Centre (NSW, ACT and Tasmania)
- NextSense (NSW, Victoria and the Northern Territory)
- Can:Do 4Kids (South Australia)
- Hear and Say (Queensland)
- TSH (Western Australia)
- The Hearing House (New Zealand)
The organiser's website lists Hear and Say as the centre for Queensland, and you choose the one you want to support when you take part.
Loud Shirt Day is a good reminder of why children's hearing matters. We are glad to see families, classrooms and workplaces get involved.
Ways to take part
You do not need to be a parent to join in. Some easy ideas:
- Schools and kindergartens: A loud-clothes day is easy to run and children enjoy it.
- Workplaces: Ask your team to wear their loudest shirts and put a donation jar by the kettle.
- Sports clubs: A club night or training session with a loud-shirt theme can bring a whole community together.
- Families: Let the kids pick outfits, take photos and talk about why you are doing it.
Details of how to take part and the full list of centres are on the organiser's website.
A good day to talk to kids about hearing
Children are naturally curious. Loud Shirt Day gives you an easy opening to chat about ears and listening, in a relaxed way:
- Ask your child what they think hearing is for.
- Talk about how some children hear differently from others, and that this is a normal part of life.
- Encourage kind, patient communication, such as facing someone when you speak to them.
You do not need to know all the answers. Being open and matter-of-fact is enough.
Looking after your own child's hearing
A day like this can also prompt a quiet question in the back of a parent's mind: "Has anyone ever checked my child's hearing?"
You do not need a particular reason to ask. If you have a question about how your child hears, a hearing test is a sensible way to get information.
At Hearing Help we test the hearing of children as well as adults. What happens at a children's hearing appointment depends on the child's age and how they are feeling on the day, and your audiologist will explain each step. According to Raising Children Network, an audiologist usually looks in the child's ears and tests how the eardrum and middle ear move. For toddlers, testing is often made into a game: the child listens for beeps and whistles and is rewarded for turning towards a visual cue, such as a puppet.
A few points worth knowing:
- A hearing test is not a diagnosis of anything else. It gives information about how your child hears. Your audiologist will talk you through the results and, if needed, suggest who else to see.
- Ear pain, discharge, dizziness or bleeding: see your GP or go to an emergency department the same day.
- A suspected ear infection or fluid in the ear: these are medical questions, so see your GP first.
- A sudden change in your child's hearing: see your GP or go to an emergency department the same day.
- Hearing aids: Hearing Help fits hearing aids for adults only, so if a child's test raised a question about devices, your audiologist would explain the next step and who to see.
Is a test needed "just in case"?
Not necessarily. The point is simply that if you have wondered about your child's hearing, you are allowed to ask, and you do not need to wait for a special event or a school note.
Some parents find it easier to book when it fits a natural moment, like the start of a school year or after a family conversation about listening. There is no wrong time to ask a question.
Preparing for the appointment
If you do book an appointment, a few small things can make it more relaxed for everyone:
- Tell your child in advance, in simple words, that someone will look at their ears and play some listening games.
- Bring along any comfort item your child likes.
- Let the audiologist know about anything you have noticed or any questions you have been carrying around. Jotting them down beforehand helps.
- Ask us how to prepare when you book, as every child is different.
A fun day with a real purpose
Loud Shirt Day works because it is cheerful. It brings people together, supports organisations that help children with hearing loss, and gets a conversation started about something that is usually quiet.
Whether you pull on the loudest shirt in the wardrobe or simply spend a few minutes thinking about your child's listening, that conversation is worth having.
If you'd like to talk it through, book a hearing assessment with Erin at Hearing Help (Newport Marketplace). You can book through our website or ask us any questions about how a children's hearing test works.